Rutherford County, Tennessee Income Statistics
Rutherford County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Rutherford County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Tennessee
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rutherford County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,930 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,367 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.8% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.1% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rutherford County is about 23% higher than in Tennessee. Income has been growing slower in Rutherford County (4.9%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Rutherford County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rutherford County, Tennessee grew by 61.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $85,930 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rutherford County
| Metric | Rutherford County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,586 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $53,694 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.6% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rutherford County, it is 0.520, lower than Tennessee's 0.542, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $346,220 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rutherford County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 20% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2018, and was narrowest at 12% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $887 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rutherford County | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.0% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 7,216 people are unemployed in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Rutherford County is 23 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rutherford County, Tennessee has fallen from 8.3% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2023.
Rutherford County, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rutherford County, TN is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 357,384 residents against a local median of 59,710. Rutherford County, TN's median household income, at $85,930, runs 24% above the $69,118 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 4.9%/yr against a local median of 4.0%/yr, 23% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Rutherford County, TN is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $76,664 on median household income, so Rutherford County, TN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Rutherford County, TN has the 3rd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County, TN | 357,384 | $85,930 #3/6 | 4.9%/yr #3/6 | 3.6% #5/6 | 0.520 #2/6 |
| Bedford County, TN | 52,237 | $69,118 | 5.9%/yr | 4.2% | 0.520 |
| Wilson County, TN | 157,828 | $95,707 | 5.2%/yr | 3.2% | 0.520 |
| Cannon County, TN | 14,818 | $59,227 | 4.0%/yr | 2.8% | 0.542 |
| Williamson County, TN | 260,351 | $135,891 | 3.9%/yr | 2.4% | 0.534 |
| Coffee County, TN | 59,710 | $61,155 | 3.8%/yr | 3.5% | 0.534 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rutherford County, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Tennessee, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Rutherford County, Tennessee?
Rutherford County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $85,930, about 23% higher than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
How has median household income changed in Rutherford County, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rutherford County, Tennessee rose 62%, from $53,172 to $85,930. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Tennessee as a whole: +62% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Rutherford County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rutherford County, Tennessee was $83,122, up 6% from $78,688 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Rutherford County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rutherford County, Tennessee was $67,963. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $85,930.
Is it hard to find a job in Rutherford County, Tennessee?
Unemployment in Rutherford County, Tennessee is only 3.6%, well below the Tennessee rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rutherford County, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Rutherford County is 0.520. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rutherford County, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rutherford County, Tennessee has narrowed from about 20% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2018, and was narrowest at 12% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $887 since 2009.
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